Chapter Text
“I need a break. Do you need a break?”
That’s all Suvi said. But it was the first time she had ever said anything like that. And there was a sparkle in her eyes. Or something. Maybe I’m imagining it, Ryder thought. I just want it to be there.
In the seconds after she had babbled her attraction at Suvi in basically the most inappropriate time and manner possible, Ryder had wondered if they could ever even be friends. But Suvi had smoothed it over with a friendly flirt of a reply. Time had gone by. They kept having great conversations . . . and Ryder kept herself from saying anything else stupid. So far.
Exploring a vault with no clue what was around the corner? No problem. Sneak or shoot. Simple, really. She was prepared for that sort of thing by her father, her training. But that accent, those lips making her heart pound every time she was on the bridge? There was no training for dealing with that.
Now Ryder watched Suvi making tea and worked at looking cool without looking like she was trying to look cool. She could feel herself failing. Damn it. Why was this so freaking hard?
Suvi was talking to her. She forced her attention to her words. Not her lips. Her eyes. Her waist. Her breasts . . . Oh God, Ryder—pull yourself together. Be respectful. Don’t be a jerk.
She wasn’t meaning to be a jerk. At all. Really, she loved talking with Suvi. About science. About God. About anything. A lot of the whole attraction was to her mind. Her attitude of wonder. Ryder loved that—and shared it. But the physical side of the attraction was a thing too. No denying it. Especially not at this moment. She felt her eyes drifting to the hips again. Eyes, Ryder. Look in her eyes.
Light blue eyes were smiling at her. A knowing smile. A smile that said, I know you’re looking. I know, and I like it.
Oh.
They had a conversation about missing things from the Milky Way. About what the future might hold. It was nice. But Ryder was only half there. Because that look meant Suvi was interested too.
She was so close. Ryder could smell the scent from her hair. She could never smell that on the bridge. She felt slightly faint.
It was completely fucking ridiculous.
She realized Suvi was even closer than before. Eyes still smiling, but something else too. Curiosity? Desire? Suvi’s eyes were roaming too. She was checking Ryder out. Very obviously.
Ok. Ok. Who was the Pathfinder here? Ryder, step up.
Ryder licked her lips. She was smiling at Suvi. She inhaled and just said it: Suvi, I like you.
“Ryder [Suvi’s eyes were sparkling now for sure] . . . I know.” A light laugh. Those beautiful eyes.
And her lips looked so soft. They glistened. And then, those lips were pressed against her own. She had been right—so soft. They tasted sweet. A little like tea. A little like the future.
Ryder wrapped her arm around Suvi’s waist and pulled her close.